The Two Faces of Tomorrow

Midway through the 21st century, an integrated global computer network manages much of the world's affairs. A proposed major software upgrade — an artificial intelligence — will give the system an unprecedented degree of independent decision-making, but serious questions are raised in regard to how much control can safely be given to a non-human

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Overview

Midway through the 21st century, an integrated global computer network manages much of the world's affairs. A proposed major software upgrade — an artificial intelligence — will give the system an unprecedented degree of independent decision-making, but serious questions are raised in regard to how much control can safely be given to a non-human intelligence. In order to more fully assess the system, a new space-station habitat — a world in miniature — is developed for deployment of the fully operational system, named Spartacus. This mini-world can then be "attacked" in a series of escalating tests to assess the system's responses and capabilities. If Spartacus gets out of hand, the system can be shut down and the station destroyed... unless Spartacus decides to take matters into its own hands and take the fight to Earth.

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

This hefty manga adapts the 1979 near-future hard-sf thriller by Hogan (Mission to Minerva). When a lack of judgment on the part of TITAN, the semi-intelligent computer managing many aspects of Earth society, almost kills five people, humanity has two choices: to downgrade TITAN's capabilities—or to increase them and create a system that might evolve real intelligence and might see humans as a threat. To test the risks of the latter plan, Dr. Raymond Dyer and his team of AI researchers stage an experiment in which the personnel of space station Janus are pitted against the station's next-generation computer, Spartacus, designed with a survival instinct. When Spartacus proves more ingenious than anticipated, people start dying. Hoshino (2001 Nights) streamlines Hogan's intelligent and gripping story, introduces a new wrinkle at the end, and concentrates less on characterization and background than on detailed renderings of technology. With its realistic art style, its pages flipped to read left-to-right, and its large 7 x 10 format, this will appeal more to sf fans than average manga readers. With minor nudity and gore, it's recommended for adult collections.Steve Raiteri